Neal McDonough’s emotional journey in The Last Rodeo comes to life in a stirring new film where he not only stars but also co-wrote the story, working closely with director Jon Avnet. The movie follows Joe Wainright, a once-celebrated rodeo star who is compelled to confront his painful past and return to the world of bull riding to help save his grandson, weaving McDonough’s personal challenges and triumphs into the very fabric of its narrative.
The Last Rodeo stands apart from McDonough’s usual villainous TV roles by revealing his emotional range and deep personal connection to the story, with Avnet and McDonough fostering a collaborative spirit that grounds the film’s high-stakes suspense and raw character development. Their shared commitment to authenticity elevates this underdog tale well beyond a traditional sports drama, as it explores themes of faith, redemption, and the emotional cost of personal transformation.
A New Angle on the Sports Underdog Tale
The journey of The Last Rodeo began when McDonough, inspired by his own fears about family loss, started crafting a screenplay with Derek Presley before partnering with seasoned filmmaker Jon Avnet. Together, they shaped a story centered on Joe Wainright, whose world is upended when his grandson is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. To raise the necessary funds for medical treatment, Joe returns to the punishment of the rodeo circuit, risking both body and spirit while confronting regrets from his past.
Rather than following clichés, the filmmakers drew from their own experiences to give the characters depth. Avnet, reading the script, quickly realized the unique perspective McDonough was pursuing, especially as the story’s lead is a man who has lost his faith—a sharp contrast to McDonough’s own devout background. Avnet found this choice compelling, underscoring the journey of how someone so deeply wounded might rediscover meaning and hope in their life.
Avnet chose to emphasize the relationships at the heart of the film, especially those between father and daughter, as well as the tangled friendships that influence Joe’s journey. His collaboration with Sarah Jones and Mykelti Williamson brought those connections to life, allowing the characters to react with raw honesty to heartbreak and redemption. As Avnet shared,
“One was the father/daughter stuff. I had worked with Sarah Jones before, and I thought she and Neil together would be explosive. She was great. Second was Mykelti Williamson, whom Neil and I have worked with many times, [that relationship informed the performances]. Neil’s character suffered a loss, and in doing so, he gave up.”
—Jon Avnet, Director
To Avnet, Joe’s journey is not just about the dangers of the sport or the fights along the way, but about
“Joe became selfish, he became self-indulgent. He hurt his family, he hurt his friends. His journey back from that was something I thought could be very emotional, and that I could express in the action. That’s something I’ve always wanted to do in an action film, to have that emotional element to it. Not just the guns or the fighting, or in this case, the bull riding. I thought that was very exciting.”
—Jon Avnet, Director
Capturing the Spirit and Challenge of Bull Riding
The Last Rodeo is an unapologetic tribute to the physical and emotional challenges of bull riding, which the creative team treated with both awe and respect. For Avnet, the rodeo world was uncharted territory, but its novelty was a key attraction. With help from PBR CEO Sean Gleason and others, the filmmakers sought an authentic representation of the sport, driven by a desire to honor the reality of modern bull riders and their dangerous, exhilarating craft.
Avnet’s approach involved intense preparation and technical rigor, ensuring that every bull riding scene—from Joe training in the ring to the tension at major competitions—felt genuine and immersive. Although neither McDonough nor Avnet were seasoned rodeo experts before the film, their efforts paid off.
“I always like to learn! [PBR CEO Sean Gleason] was one of my many teachers. Neal and I really wanted to get the bull riding right.”
—Jon Avnet, Director
The test of their authenticity came at the USA Film Festival in Dallas, where Sean Gleason and his wife watched the film alongside McDonough and his family. The stakes were high, as McDonough admitted to feeling intense pressure with Gleason in the audience. To his relief, Gleason praised The Last Rodeo, calling it his new favorite film. This validation from the rodeo world meant as much as critical acclaim, affirming the film’s careful portrayal of the sport and its culture.
Much of the credit for the film’s visual impact falls on Avnet, who captured bull riding with a visceral, grounded style. McDonough himself noted Avnet’s devotion to realism in the action sequences, while Avnet emphasized the big-screen potential of the experience:
“I really hope people will come out and support it, because it’s the kind of movie that you’ll just enjoy on the big screen.”
—Jon Avnet, Director
Avnet also compared McDonough’s screen presence to classic film icons, explaining,
“I want people to see Neil as I saw him. He has those qualities where he can express so much by doing so little. His pain is etched in his face. You don’t have to say that much, and it’s so authentic.”
Personal Struggles Mirror On-Screen Redemption
Neal McDonough’s acclaimed career includes many standout roles as charismatic antagonists in shows like Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Arrow, and Justified. However, in The Last Rodeo, the story breaks away from conventional hero-villain dynamics, opting instead to make the lead character’s internal battles the driving force of the narrative. For McDonough, Joe’s greatest adversary is his own past: guilt over family failures, selfishness after his wife’s death, and the fear of repeating those patterns while his grandson’s life hangs in the balance.
These themes connected deeply to McDonough’s own life. After being let go from ABC’s Scoundrels in 2010 due to unwillingness to film sex scenes—a decision rooted in his faith and personal convictions—he experienced significant professional challenges, losing jobs and feeling isolated from his calling. In his words,
“to me, the villain is [Joe]’s past. How can I face that villain? How can I overcome my selfishness after I lost my wife, now that I’m about to lose my grandson too?”
McDonough’s openness about his own struggles grounds Joe Wainright’s arc in authentic emotion. He recounted hitting rock bottom during those years,
“I didn’t have a job for a couple of years after that, and I lost everything. I drank myself silly and made it all about me. I asked God, ‘Why have you forgotten all about me?’ I realized in that second that I had made everything about me, and it wasn’t about serving Him or serving my family. One minute later, I get a phone call, and it’s Graham Yost and Jon Avent, saying ‘Hey, heard you’re going through some hard stuff, we want you to be the bad guy in Justified this year.’”
This opportunity reinvigorated him, igniting a new drive:
“I’m coming hard. Ever since that moment, I have worked my butt off to make sure the audience is never let down with my performances.”
Behind-the-Scenes Dedication and Onscreen Teamwork
Through years of friendship and shared creative ambition, Avnet and McDonough reinforced each other’s strengths on set. Avnet remarked on McDonough’s total immersion in his roles, citing a blend of vulnerability and professionalism that elevated every scene. “He understands this character,” Avnet said.
“He understood that pain was what was pushing him. Having worked with Neil and knowing what he’s capable of, I’m still surprised by how committed he was. It wasn’t surprising how good he was. He always was, and he did everything to help others. In many ways, he’s the opposite of this character. Joe is so self-centered and so self-involved. I knew the pain Neil had in his life, and that he could take to the audience on this journey through it.”
—Jon Avnet, Director
McDonough was quick to return the praise, attributing much of his strongest performances to working with supportive directors like Avnet and a spirit of adaptability:
“I’m really good at being a piece of clay. I want to have a great director mold that clay into perfection. That makes me so happy, and there’s no other dude on this planet who does it like Avnet for me. You can say what you want about me, but this is teamwork.”
The synergy between director and actor is clear throughout The Last Rodeo, showing how creative collaboration and mutual respect can raise a sports drama into deeply felt territory. The supporting cast, including Mykelti Williamson as Charlie Williamson, Sarah Jones as Sally Wainwright, and Christopher McDonald as Jimmy Mack, all bring essential dimension to Joe’s world—each actor playing a role in the central theme of family, regret, and ultimately redemption.
The Last Rodeo: In Theaters and Beyond
The Last Rodeo is now playing in theaters, inviting audiences to experience the intensity of bull riding and the power of personal redemption on the big screen. With a script that blends underdog sports narrative with genuine emotional stakes, and performances shaped by real-life struggles and partnerships, the film stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the importance of facing one’s own demons.
The project is a highlight in McDonough’s career, supported by the guidance and vision of Jon Avnet, and a dedication to getting every detail right, from the intricacies of the rodeo to the nuances of loss and forgiveness. For those seeking an emotionally charged cinematic experience grounded in reality, The Last Rodeo delivers on its promises through the authenticity of its creators and cast, and the universal themes it tackles head-on.
